I’ve had a few queries regarding Rittel Fees 2010, and I’ve seen the trend in searches to this site. I would have posted this earlier, but I’ve had quitea few PC related problems these past few weeks. And since this is an Afrikaans music festival, I’m dropping the English for now.

That’s CD for all you who probably cut your teeth on one. I’m talking to my generation who used to put peanuts on the turntable and get dizzy watching them go round-and-round-and-round. Or who laughed at Cliff Richard (before he was knighted) when you deliberately choose the wrong speed. Whose dad replaced the worn out timing belt with your mom’s old bra strap. You guys: when was the first time you saw a CD, and which ones did you buy first?

I think I was around 8 or 9 years old. I was at my dad’s for a holiday and we went to visit my uncle. He had just returned from Europe and wanted to show us the latest in music. I remember him opening this small case of Andew Lloyd Webber’s Ultimate Collection (My dad had the vinyl, so I knew the songs by heart, albeit not always the right lyrics [ don’t think Mr. Webber intended for Magical mist and the Star Families to be part of Cats] ). Like I told my mother a few weeks later: ‘He takes out this silver 7″ single and places it into this tray that moves at the push of a button. No needle, no setting the speed, no side B.’

A few years later my step-dad bought a CD player. It weighed about 50kg I swear. Had all these cables to plug into the hi-fi and I wasn’t allowed to touch it. I had to request a song and he would make the magic happen.

About a year later I entered a competition to win a CD clock radio. I won. By this time I also had a regular allowance and helped out in the pharmacy on weekends and during holidays, so the girl had some money. First CD I bought was Meat Loaf: Bat out of Hell back Into Hell. I listened to it over and over and over. It’s scratched now, can only play about 4 songs on it, has my name in coki on the plastic case, the booklet and on the disc – It was, and still is, mine.

I can honestly say I still have and buy CD’s. I don’t own an iPod, and my car stereo can handle just about any format. I’ve never bought a vinyl record though. I managed to salvage one from my step-dad’s stash to turn into a wall clock: Now That’s What I Call Music 4. I kid you not, it was on vinyl before CD’s and before tapes. Now I want to raid his stash again so I can make this stunning bowl.

I love when I do a list item without realizing it. It’s because a lot of the items on my list is what I’ve been meaning to do for a while now, and never seem to either have time or take the opportunity (make the opportunity) to do. The list sort of helps to put it in perspective.

We were in Cape Town for a wedding and of course fitted in some shopping. I was hunting for some DVD’s for Amelia. {found Fraggle Rock –clap clap-} Henk browsed the Afrikaans CD’s and plonked Beeskraal in my hands… to pay at the till you see.

We probably listened to it on the way back but I was reading so wasn’t paying attention. It’s still in my car – will take a proper listen to see if I like it. I only know 1 song by them anyway: Afrikaans rendition of “Green, green grass of home” called “Plaasdorp”. (The Rittelfees crowd of 2007 also only knew the lyrics to that song 🙂 )